Starter for internal-combustion engines.



L. H. OBERREICH.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 7} I916 152194331. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

WI TNESSES:

I" uanms wsrsns ca. PHOTO-Yum. wAsmNc mu. 0. c.

LOUIE H. crannies: H, or Innranaroris, INDIANA.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-OMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Egg 13, 1917.

Application filed October 7, 1916. Serial No. 124,414.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIE H. Oisnunmon, a citizen of .the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Starter for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of my invention to produce a starter for internal combustion engines, whereby the power is transmitted to the engine shaft through a spring device which will not normally with sufiicient force to turn the engine and keep it turning for some time, but if the engine is stiff so that this force is not su'liicient to start it will produce a greater force which will start the stiff engine and allow the lighter force then to become effective to keep it in motion. It is my further object to provide in such a starter a spring structure which is provided with intermediate supports to hold the parts of the spring in proper relative position.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention. In this drawing Figure 1 is an end elevation of an internal combustion engine equipped with a starter embodying a preferred form of my invention, showing the over-running clutch in partial sec.- tion; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such internal combustion engine and starter, with some of the parts of the starter in section; and Fig. 3 is a sectionon the line 33 of Fig. 2.

The internal combustion engine 10 is of any desired type, and its shaft 11 is connected by suitable gearing, shown as intermeshing gears 12 and 13, to the outer element of an ove'rrunning clutch, which outer element in this case is the gear 13. The inner element 11 of this clutch is locked to the outer element 13 upon tendency to relative rotation between them in one direction so that the two parts then rotate together, but the two parts are disconnected so that either may rotate independently upon relative rotation in-the other direction. The locking devices of this overrunning clutch are of any usual form, such as rollers 15 working in slots 16 in the periphery of the inner member 14, which slots 16 at one end are deeper than the diameter of the rollers 15 and at the other end are of less depth than the diameter of such rollers,

Both members 13 and 1 1 of the overrunning clutch are loosely mounted on one end of a fixed rod or shaft 20, so that they can turn thereon, and loosely mounted on the other end of such shaft is a worm wheel 21 or other device to which power is supplied for starting the engine. As shown, the worm wheel 21 meshes with a worm 22 on the shaft of a starting motor 23, which may be-of any desired type, though indicated as an electric motor. At an intermediate point of the shaft 20 is loosely mounted a collar Two tubes 25 and 26, rigid with the inner member 14 ofthe overrunning clutch and the worm wheel 21 respectively, as by having such parts shrunk thereon, are

loosely mounted on the shaft 20 and space the collar 2 1 from the parts they respectively carry. A relatively light helical spring 27 surrounding the tube 26 connects the worm wheel 21 and the collar 24, and a heavier helical spring 28 surrounding the tube 25 connects the collar 2 1 and the inner member 1 1 of the overrunning clutch. The collar 24 thus forms an intermediate support for the combination spring element 2728, for the two springs 27 and 28 and such collar together form a combination spring element having two portions of different stiffness, connected in series between the worm wheel 21 and the inner member 14; of the overrunning clutch. Any convenient arrangement may be used to limit the winding of the light spring 27 and compel the winding of the heavier spring 28 at a given point in the operation. In the arrangement shown the collar 2% and tube 26 have overlapping fingers 29 which upon a given wind ing of the light spring 27 engage to compel the collar 24 to move with the worm wheel 21 and prevent further winding of such light spring, thereby compelling any further spring winding to be of the heavy spring 28. The relative stiffness of the two springs may be varied, if desired, in any suitable mannor, as by a clamping yoke 30 which may clamp any point of either spring to the tube on which it is wound, thereby rendering the spring efiective for only that part between the clamping yoke and the collar 24. The drawing shows the clamping yoke on the heavy spring 28, but such a yoke may be used on either or both of the springs.

. In operation, the worm wheel 21 is turned, as by the motor 23 when that is used. The friction of the engine 10 holds it from moving at first In consequence, the light a spring 27 is wound up, by reason of the turning of the worm wheel 21 while the clutch part 14 is held stationary by the engine by the interlocking oi the parts 13 and 14. As the spring 27 is wound up, an increasing force is developed tending to turn the engine. If the force thus developed is sufficient to start the engine before the spring 27 is fully wound, as determined by the fingers 29 such starting occurs, and the spring 27 unwinds to continue the turning, the force being transmitted from the motor 23 through the springs 27 and 28 and the over-running clutch to the engine. If the engine is so stiif that the spring 27 when fully wound is not sutiicient to start it, then the winding of the spring 27 continues until it is entirely wound, such winding being limited by the engagement of the fingers 29 in the arrangement shown. When the spring 27 is thus fully wound and the fingers 29 engage, the continued movement of the motor 23 winds the heavy spring 20', thus developing a more powerful force tending to start the engine. This more powerful force is suflicient to start the engine even though it is stifii. As the coefiicient of friction is greatest for a condition of rest, the friction in the engine becomes less after it once starts, so that upon such starting the spring 28 unwinds as far as it was wound, thus continuing to turn the engine,and in addition the spring 27 unwinds to continue such turning of the engine. Thus the heavy spring 28 develops sufiicient force to start the engine, while the lighter spring 27 de velops sufiicient force to keep the engine moving and to turn it a number of times, usually sufficient for it to begin operating by its own explosions. Then the engine starts, the over-running clutch 13-14 releases itself, so that the engine may continue in operation without movement of the clutch part 14, the springs 27 and 28, the worm wheel 21, or the motor 23.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, and a light spring and a heavy spring connected in series between said power-receiving and powertransmitting parts.

2. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, an intermediate part, a light spring connecting said intermediate part to one of said first two parts, and a heavy spring connecting said intermediate part to the other of said first two parts.

3. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a light spring and a heavy spring connected in series between said power-receiving and powertransmitting parts, and an ovcrrunning clutch between said second part and the engine to be started.

l In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a powerreceiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, an intermediate part, a light spring connecting said intermediate part to one of said first two parts, a heavy spring connecting said intermediate part to the other of said first two parts, and an over-running clutch between said second part and the engine to be started.

5. In a self-starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to he started for transmitting power thereto, a light spring and a heavy spring connected in series between said power-receiving and powertransmitting parts, and a power motor for operating said first part.

6. In a self-starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, an intermediate part, a light spring connecting said intermediate part to one of said first two parts, a heavy spring connecting said intermediate part to the other of said first two parts, and a power motor for operating said first part.

7. In a self-starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a light spring and a heavy spring connected in series between said power-receiving and power-transmitting parts, a power motor for operating said first part, and an overrunning clutch between said second part and the engine to be started.

8. In a selfistarter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be starts for transmitting power thereto, an intermediate part, a light spring connecting said intermediate part to one of said first two parts, a heavy spring connecting said intermediate part to the other of said first two parts, a power motor for operating said first part, and an over-running clutch between said second part and the engine to be started.

9. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a spring element interconnecting said two parts, and supporting means for an intermediate part of said spring element.

10. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a power-receiving part, a part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, two helical springs in series connecting said two parts, and a common support for the adjacent ends of said springs.

11. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a powerreceiving part, a part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a light spring and a heavy spring connected in series between said power-receiving and ower-transmitting parts, and a mounting for said light spring arranged so that upon a given stressing of said spring further stressing is prevented while the heavy spring is still free for stressing.

12. In a starter for internal. combustion engines, the combination of a power-receiving part, a part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, an intermediate part, a light spring connect ing saidintermediate part to one or" said first two parts, a heavy spring connecting said intermediate part to the other of said first two parts, and a mounting for said light spring arranged so that upon a given stressing of said spring further stressing is prevented while the heavy spring is still free for stressing.

13. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a rotatable power-receiving part, a rotatable part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, said parts being co-aXi-al, a helical spring element co-axial with said two parts and interconnecting 'them, and a support for an intermediate part of said helical spring element.

14:. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a rotatable power-receiving part, a rotatable part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, said parts being co-aXial, and a helical spring element co axial with said two parts and interconnecting them, said helical spring element comprising two parts one of which is stiffer than the other.

15. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, and a spring element interconnecting said two parts and comprising lighter and heavier portions.

16. In a starter for internal combnstion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a spring element interconnecting said two parts and comprising lighter and heavier portions, and means for varying the relative stiffness of said two portions.

17. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a rotatable power-receiving part, a rotatable part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, said parts being co-axial, a helical spring element co-axial with said two parts and interconnecting them, said helical spring element comprising two parts one of which is stiffer than. the other, and means for varying the relatirc stiffness of said two portions.

18. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination with the engine to be started, of a powerreceiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a light spring and a heavy spring connected in series between said power-receiving and powertransmitting parts, and means for varying the relative stiidness of said two springs.

19. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a power-receiving part, a part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a light spring and a heavy spring connected in series between said power-receiving and power-transmitting parts, a mounting for said light spring arranged so that upon a given stressing of said light spring further stressing is prevented while the heavy spring is still free for stressing, and means for varying the relative stifi'ness of said two springs. v

20. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a spring element connecting said power-receiving and power-transmitting parts, and means for varying the stiffness of said spring element.

21. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine to be started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected tothe engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a spring element connecting said power-receiving and power-transmitting parts, means for varying the stiflness of said spring element, and a power motor for operating said power-receiving part.

22. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a power-receiving part, a part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a spring element connecting said powerreceiving and power-transmitting parts, means for varying the stiffness of said spring element, and a mounting for said spring element arranged so that the stress ing of said spring element is limited.

28. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a power-receiving part, a part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a spring element connecting said powerreceiving and power-transmitting parts, means for varying the stiffness of said spring element, and a mounting for said spring element arranged so that the stress ing of said spring element is limited, and a power motor for operating said p0werreceiving part.

In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination, with the engine tobe started, of a power-receiving part, a part connected to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, a torsion spring element interconnecting said two parts, and supporting means for an intermediate part of said torsion spring element.

25. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a power-receiving part, a part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, and a plurality of torsion springs in series connected to said two parts, said torsion springs having different stiffnesses.

26. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a rotatable power-receiving part, a rotatable part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, said parts being co-axial, and a torsion spring element co-axial with said two parts and interconnecting them, said torsion spring element comprising two parts one of which is stiffer than the other.

27. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination of a power-receiving part, a part for connection to the engine to be started for transmitting power thereto, and a plurality of torsion springs in series connected to said two parts.

28. In combination, two co-axial rotatable members which are rotatable relatively to each other, and two torsion springs in series connecting said two relatively rotatable members, one of said torsion springs being stiffer than the other.

29. In combination, two co-axial rotatable members which are rotatable relatively to each other, and two torsion springs in series connecting said two relatively rotatable members.

30. In combination, a shaft, two members mounted on said shaft so that one is rotatable relatively to the other, and two helical springs in series surrounding said shaft and connecting said two members, one of said helical springs being stiffer than the other. 31. In combination, a shaft, two members mounted on said shaft so that one is rotatable relatively to the other, and two helical springs in series surrounding said shaft and connecting said two members.

32'. In combination, two co-axial rotatable members which are rotatable relatively to each other, and a torsion spring element interconnecting said two relatively rotatable members, said torsion spring element comprising two parts one of which is stiffer than the other. I

33. In combination, a shaft, two members mounted on said shaft so that one is rotatable relatively to the other, and a connection between said two members, said connection including a helical spring element having a plurality of parts of different stiffnesses.

' S-l. In combination, two relatively movable parts, a light spring and a heavy spring connected in series between said two parts, and a mounting for said light spring arranged so that upon a given stress ing of said light spring further stressing thereof is prevented while the heavy spring is still free for stressing.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this fifth day of October, A. D. one thousandnine hundred and sixteen.

LOUIE H. OBERR-EICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

